Winning start in Allianz League for Galway Footballers at Tuam Stadium

Mountbellew/Moylough County Under 21 Football Champions

GAA Allianz Football League launched at Croke Park

Finian Hanley received a special presentation from Salthill-Knocknacarra GAA Club to mark his retirement from the Galway senior football team following a fantastic career. Ben Kelly and Tim O’Connell, Finian’s first two coaches, made the presentation. A special thanks to Davitt Photo Centre, Salthill, for doing such a fantastic job on the jersey, photos and frame.

Liam Mellows supporters 3 year old Kirsten Fahy daughter of Liam Mellows player David Fay and 2 year old Kyle Hastings son of Liam Mellows player Jack Hastings before the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final match between Liam Mellows and Cuala at Semple Stadium in Thurles. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Corofin’s Michael Lundy and Moorefield's James Murrayare pictured ahead of the AIB GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Club Championship Semi-Final taking place at O’Connor Park on Saturday, 17th of February. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Galway 1-13 Mayo 0-11

Shane Walsh of Galway in action against Jason Doherty of Mayo during the Allianz Football League Division 1 Round 3 match between Galway and Mayo at Pearse Stadium. Photo by Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile Read More

All-Ireland club hurling champions Cuala are back in the finalafter Mattie Kenny’s side accounted for Galway’s Liam Mellows in Thurles. CLICK HERE

Efficient Galway see off Limerick to reach Allianz Hurling League Final

Galway are into a first Allianz Hurling League final since 2010 after Conor Cooney’s second-half goal saw them past Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.Galway dominated for the most part, other than a bright start to the second-half from Limerick that closed the gap to three points. But after Cooney’s goal and five unanswered points Galway cruised to the final on a scoreline if 1-21 to 1-11.Limerick hit 17 wides, a tally sure to annoy manager John Kiely ahead of their Munster championship semi-final against Clare in June.Galway captain David Burke won the toss and elected to play with the advantage of the very strong wind in the first-half at the Gaelic Grounds and that decision helped his side to a 0-13 to 1-5 lead at the interval.Like when the sides met at the same venue three weeks ago, there was a bite to the action as both teams showed great tenacity under the breaking ball, while the hits carried championship intent rather than national league politeness.But even without the wind advantage Galway looked the better team as the points flowed from play easier than at the other end.Two minutes in Cathal Mannion hoovered up a break off the post to score his first of three points from play before the break, while Shane Dowling responded with a free, Conor Cooney tapped over two excellent points to give Galway a 0-03 to 0-01 lead.When the sides last met Joe Canning proved the difference between the sides with his 0-10 haul, but Declan Hannon put the shackles on him in the early stages, until he was forced from the field after 16 minutes.His replacement Gavin O’Mahony brought some quality to the half-back line as the quality of ball into his forwards improved thereafter, although Canning then grew into the game.By the time Hannon left Galway were 0-06 to 0-03 ahead as Padraic Mannion and Conor Whelan added points from play, but in the 20th minute Limerick’s revival was given a boost when William O’Donoghue kicked to the net after David Demspey’s clever pass sent him clear.Galway’s response was controlled as Johnny Coen scored off Canning, before the Portumna man fired over two frees to restore Galway’s four-point lead.A brilliant block form O’Mahony denied Canning a point on the half-hour mark and after an immediate counter attack drew a foul, Dowling added a point for the home side.But that inspiration was fleeting for Limerick as Galway hit the last two points of the half as Canning added a free and an assist as Cathal Mannion gave Galway a five-point cushion.Dowling missed his first free of the second-half as he struggled to judge the wind, but he hit a fine points from play a minute later to cut Galway’s advantage to four points.But Canning added a free and David Burke hit his first of the game in the 46th minute as Galway edged further clear, only for three Limerick points in four minutes to give the home crowd some hope.But 14 minutes from time the dream of a first league final title in 20 years disappeared when Conor Cooney crept inside the full-back line and batted past Nickie Quaid for the clincher.Final score Galway 1-21 Limerick 1-11Galway: C Callanan; Adrian Tuohy, J Hanbury, A Harte; P Mannion (0-01), G McInerney, Daithi Burke; J Coen (0-01), David Burke (c) (0-02); P Brehony, J Canning (0-07, 0-06f), J Cooney; C Whelan (0-02), C Mannion (0-03), C Cooney (1-04).Subs used: T Monaghan (0-01) for Brehony (53), P Killeen for Hanbury (55), N Burke for J Cooney (63), J Flynn for Whelan (66), S Loftus for David Burke (68),Limerick: N Quaid; R English, R McCarthy, M Casey; D Byrnes (0-01), D Hannon, S Hickey; A Dempsey, W O’Donoghue (1-00); S Dowling (0-05), D Dempsey (0-01), G Hegarty (0-01); C Lynch (0-01), K Hayes, G Mulcahy.Subs used: G O’Mahony for Hannon (16 mins), S Finn for Hickey (38), B Nash (0-02) for Mulcahy (48), J Ryan for A Dempsey (53), J Fitzgibbon for D Dempsey (53),Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow).

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